KPK Schedules Questioning of Former Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) scheduled the questioning of former Transport Minister under seventh President Joko Widodo, Budi Karya Sumadi, in connection with a suspected corruption case within the Directorate General of Railways (DJKA) in the East Java region on Wednesday (18 February).

Budi Karya is to be questioned as a witness for suspect Harno Trimadi, the former Director of Railway Infrastructure at the DJKA within the Ministry of Transport.

“It is correct that today the KPK has scheduled the questioning of witness BKS, Minister of Transport from 2019 to 2024,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Wednesday (18 February).

“The questioning is scheduled to take place at the KPK Merah Putih Building,” he added.

The KPK has not yet provided information regarding the legal case that is suspected to have once again ensnared Harno.

Harno had previously been prosecuted in a separate case involving alleged bribes totalling Rp3.2 billion, comprising Rp2.6 billion, S$30,000 (equivalent to approximately Rp337 million), and US$20,000 (equivalent to approximately Rp304 million).

The panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday, 11 December 2023, sentenced Harno to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp200 million, with a subsidiary sentence of four months’ detention.

In addition, Harno was ordered to pay restitution of Rp900 million, US$20,000 and S$30,000, with a subsidiary sentence of two years’ imprisonment in lieu of payment.

Harno’s criminal offences at the time were committed jointly with Fadliansyah, a Commitment-Making Official (PPK) for Railway Infrastructure Maintenance at the DJKA within the Ministry of Transport, who was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp200 million with a subsidiary sentence of four months’ detention, plus restitution of Rp625 million with a subsidiary sentence of one year’s imprisonment.